See, if we only did quick, unobtrusive background checks before serving or selling alcohol, this guy's previous DUI and warrant would have kept him from buying any, and these people would all still be alive.

It's not too much to ask, you know. It just makes sense. I don't know why people fight so hard against simple regulations.

Mager I'm torn, as an Austinite it's sad to see such a tragedy. But since it happened to the people at SXSW, it makes me want to rack up the Grand Theft Auto Charles Whitman points.

FTFY, you obvsly non-native Austin Carpetbagger you

No locals had a problem w/SXSW 'til the Record Labels & South Padre Island Spring Breaker types discovered it. If The Station Fire in Rhode Island's tort lawyers can stick it to Budweiser over a 'sponsor' approach I wonder what deep pockets will be had here...

If the government is going to kill you, does it really matter what they charge you with?

He probably won't get the DP... more like life with no possibility of parole. Also they'll have to argue he intended to kill those people to stick with capital murder. The defense will naturally argue against this, and given 'reasonable doubt' and competent representation, would argue successfully I would think.

I think he'll be convicted of a lesser charges, but sentenced concurrently for each so he never leaves prison.

FlyingJ:Mager I'm torn, as an Austinite it's sad to see such a tragedy. But since it happened to the people at SXSW, it makes me want to rack up the Grand Theft Auto Charles Whitman points.

FTFY, you obvsly non-native Austin Carpetbagger you

No locals had a problem w/SXSW 'til the Record Labels & South Padre Island Spring Breaker types discovered it. If The Station Fire in Rhode Island's tort lawyers can stick it to Budweiser over a 'sponsor' approach I wonder what deep pockets will be had here...

This.

The San Francisco tech people are pretty insufferable when they come for Interactive but they are nothing on the people here just to load up on free booze being given out by every single company trying to get Brand Exposure during SXSW's music week.

Locals had their issues, but when the festival actually promoted Austin artists, they were willing to overlook it because it did contribute to the greater good. That is no longer the case. It's lost its focus, and even people that I know who have been involved with SXSW since 1989, are getting tired of it. Nothing lasts forever....

My sister went 10 years ago when she worked at EA. She got to meet and have lunch with the guys who did Homestar Runner. It was very hard to have a conversation with them because they constantly were switching between characters. That SXSW sounds cool. (in spite of her being there in a semi-official capacity for EA) Now it's Lady Gaga getting puked on brought to you by Doritos and Justin Bieber. What the hell happened?

/csb//used to want to go///now much more ambivalent////or was that the plan all along, Austin?

germ78:My sister went 10 years ago when she worked at EA. She got to meet and have lunch with the guys who did Homestar Runner. It was very hard to have a conversation with them because they constantly were switching between characters. That SXSW sounds cool. (in spite of her being there in a semi-official capacity for EA) Now it's Lady Gaga getting puked on brought to you by Doritos and Justin Bieber. What the hell happened?

/csb//used to want to go///now much more ambivalent////or was that the plan all along, Austin?

Hey, getting puked on is part of "Keep Austin Weird" so gotta give her credit there.

Can we stop focusing the asshole (and that's putting it nicely) that did this and the non-stop whining about how much REAL Austinites hate SXSW/hipsters for a second and focus on the victims? I know it's Fark and all, but show a little respect.

TheDirtyNacho:Jeng: Spanky McStupid: Will he be charged with a hate crime?

If the government is going to kill you, does it really matter what they charge you with?

He probably won't get the DP... more like life with no possibility of parole. Also they'll have to argue he intended to kill those people to stick with capital murder. The defense will naturally argue against this, and given 'reasonable doubt' and competent representation, would argue successfully I would think.

I think he'll be convicted of a lesser charges, but sentenced concurrently for each so he never leaves prison.

He killed 3 people while committing a felony (stealing a car and fleeing from cops), that's 3 counts of capital murder. You also can't get life w/o parole except in capital murder cases. That's about all his lawyer can do is argue that murderous car thief only deserves life in prison rather than the needle. Though Travis county has only given the death penalty in the last 20 years to cop killers and people who kidnap, rape, and torture their murder victims; so the lawyer might not even have that much work to do

Caelistis:Mager: I'm torn, as an Austinite it's sad to see such a tragedy. But since it happened to the people at SXSW, it makes me want to rack up the Grand Theft Auto points.

I feel you. I'm glad today saw the tail end of the SXSW farkwits, hipsters, losers and other trash exiting our fair city.

yeah, because now all those people will be gone. Austin is a great place with tons to do for a bunch of different types of people. can't we all just get along. What's next, MOTO GT? you have anything against gearheads? Can't wait for X Games!

Locals had their issues, but when the festival actually promoted Austin artists, they were willing to overlook it because it did contribute to the greater good. That is no longer the case. It's lost its focus, and even people that I know who have been involved with SXSW since 1989, are getting tired of it. Nothing lasts forever....

/ran sound for it for several years.

It's true big name acts are taking press and time away from up and coming bands this festival used to highlight, but the Austin music scene, though changing, is still thriving. If anything Austin is becoming a third hub of sorts for arts and entertainment, like, NY, and LA.

ShadowKamui:TheDirtyNacho: Jeng: Spanky McStupid: Will he be charged with a hate crime?

If the government is going to kill you, does it really matter what they charge you with?

He probably won't get the DP... more like life with no possibility of parole. Also they'll have to argue he intended to kill those people to stick with capital murder. The defense will naturally argue against this, and given 'reasonable doubt' and competent representation, would argue successfully I would think.

I think he'll be convicted of a lesser charges, but sentenced concurrently for each so he never leaves prison.

He killed 3 people while committing a felony (stealing a car and fleeing from cops), that's 3 counts of capital murder. You also can't get life w/o parole except in capital murder cases. That's about all his lawyer can do is argue that murderous car thief only deserves life in prison rather than the needle. Though Travis county has only given the death penalty in the last 20 years to cop killers and people who kidnap, rape, and torture their murder victims; so the lawyer might not even have that much work to do

Plus it looks like he has upwards of $300 cash to buy an All Star defense team.

Now, if he were a RICH White idiot, he'd spend the next few months in Newport Beach, California in a rehab center for "affluenza."

He's not an "idiot". He's not someone who partied too hard. He's not someone who made a bad decision. He's not someone who just over indulged and went over the limit like some Hollywood brat. He's a murderer who committed a triple homicide. Witnesses claimed he purposely sped up as he was approaching people. The guy is pure human garbage. 21 years old and he's already accumulated 6 uncared for kids, 3 lives taken and several others ruined. The only good thing that will possibly come out of this is he'll be appropriately culled from herd before he inflicts anymore damage to society.

Yah, I remember "South By So What"? in the early 90's...that was even before the tech stuff(even tho I'd heard that 'Dellionaires' were responsible for that, & Rob't Rodriguez, Harry Knowles, Richard Linklater & Co. were behind the Film Festival?)